buffalo

n.; pl. Buffaloes [ Sp. bufalo (cf. It. bufalo, F. buffle), fr. L. bubalus, bufalus, a kind of African stag or gazelle; also, the buffalo or wild ox, fr. Gr. &unr_; buffalo, prob. fr. &unr_; ox. See Cow the animal, and cf. Buff the color, and Bubale. ] 1. (Zool.) A species of the genus Bos or Bubalus (Bubalus bubalus), originally from India, but now found in most of the warmer countries of the eastern continent. It is larger and less docile than the common ox, and is fond of marshy places and rivers. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A very large and savage species of the same genus (Syncerus Caffer syn. Bubalus Caffer) found in South Africa; -- called also Cape buffalo. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) Any species of wild ox. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) The bison of North America. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A buffalo robe. See Buffalo robe, below. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Zool.) The buffalo fish. See Buffalofish, below. [ 1913 Webster ]

Buffalo berry (Bot.), a shrub of the Upper Missouri (Sherherdia argentea) with acid edible red berries. --
Buffalo bird (Zool.), an African bird of the genus Buphaga, of two species. These birds perch upon buffaloes and cattle, in search of parasites. --
Buffalo bug, the carpet beetle. See under Carpet. --
Buffalo chips, dry dung of the buffalo, or bison, used for fuel. [ U.S. ] --
Buffalo clover (Bot.), a kind of clover (Trifolium reflexum and Trifoliumsoloniferum) found in the ancient grazing grounds of the American bison. --
Buffalo cod (Zool.), a large, edible, marine fish (Ophiodon elongatus) of the northern Pacific coast; -- called also blue cod, and cultus cod. --
Buffalo fly, or
Buffalo gnat (Zool.), a small dipterous insect of the genus Simulium, allied to the black fly of the North. It is often extremely abundant in the lower part of the Mississippi valley and does great injury to domestic animals, often killing large numbers of cattle and horses. In Europe the Columbatz fly is a species with similar habits. --
Buffalo grass (Bot.), a species of short, sweet grass (Buchloë dactyloides), from two to four inches high, covering the prairies on which the buffaloes, or bisons, feed. [ U.S. ] --
Buffalo nut (Bot.), the oily and drupelike fruit of an American shrub (Pyrularia oleifera); also, the shrub itself; oilnut. --
Buffalo robe, the skin of the bison of North America, prepared with the hair on; -- much used as a lap robe in sleighs. [ 1913 Webster ]